Well it finally happened! The Philadelphia Eagles actually lost a game after winning their previous nine games. They lost at home for the third time at Lincoln Financial Field. They lost to a San Francisco 49ers team, which was eliminated from the playoffs last week. The Eagles lost to a team without their #1 superstar in T.O. or Terrell Owens, who broke his collarbone late in the 2nd quarter. The Eagles defense once again surrendered over 100 yards to a single rusher. They gave up 209 total yards on the ground with Kevin Barlow leading the way with 154 yards on 30 carries. The Eagles were sloppy and missed too many tackles allowing the 49ers to run rampant over the Eagles. Overall, San Francisco outgained the Eagles 417 yards to 293, while also controlling the clock. The Niners ended with over 36 minutes of possession of the ball pushing the Eagles defense to the limit. In fact, the 49ers offense scored on 4 of their last 5 possessions. Maybe this was a wakeup call or maybe it was a bad omen. The Eagles must make kind some of defensive adjustment to stop the run before some team runs for over 300 yards. Super Bowl bound teams usually have a decent defense, but during the past 8 years, it usually the team with a better offense that has won. The Eagles could of put this game away during the first half if not for some bad luck. It had the potential to be 24-7, but they settled for a 14-14 tie.

It all started out good as James Thrash took the opening kickoff just inside the 49ers 40-yard line. Tony Parrish intercepted Donovan McNabb’s first pass on the first play from scrimmage. The Niners took over after the return at the Eagles 48-yard line. San Francisco proceeded to drive down to the Eagles 13-yard line where the drive stalled. A botched snap on the field goal attempt gave the Eagles back the ball with no damage. San Francisco got the ball back after the Eagles failed to get a first down and scored a TD on a 15-yard screen pass to Kevin Barlow for a 7-0 lead. McNabb moved the ball easy until he was sacked for an 11-yard loss back at the 49ers 49-yard line. The Eagles punted the ball back and on the very first play, Corey Simon sacked Jeff Garcia. On the play, he fumbled and the Eagles Carlos Emmons recovered the ball on the 20-yard line. Two plays later, Duce Staley scored on a 7-yard run and the game was tied at 7. Staley had a nice game, rushing for 53 yards on 11 carries and scored 2 TD’s. The Eagles still were too sloppy or should I say careless too. Case in point? Duce Staley’s second TD of the game should of gave the Eagles a 21-7 lead, but Todd Pinkston fumbled a great pass from McNabb just moments before as he hauled in a bomb deep down the sidelines. On the play, he fumbled inside the 1-yard line and the ball went through the end zone for a touchback. Pinkston did have a big game, catching 5 passes for 121 yards and had a huge TD late in the fourth quarter. The sure-footed David Akers also missed two FG’s, which had not happened to him since 2000. If Pinkston hadn’t fumbled and Akers had made just 1 FG, then the Eagles still probably would have won that game.

During the second quarter, the Eagles were delivered a big blow as linebacker Carlos Emmons broke his leg and will miss the rest of the season. The injury seemed to take away Philly’s spirit on defense as San Francisco proceeded to score 3 touchdowns and 3 field goals. It was a tough second half. Withy the game tied at 14, it was Brian Westbrook with another fabulous 81-yard punt return for a TD and an Eagles 21-14 lead. After a couple of FG’s and a TD, Donovan McNabb once again took the team another late 4th quarter drive with under 5 minutes left. Freddie Mitchell caught a key pass on fourth-and-9 from the 49ers 31-yard line for a huge first down. Two plays later, McNabb read the all-out blitz and heaved a great pass to Pinkston who made a great backwards diving catch and the game was tied with only 52 seconds left. Disaster struck again in OT, when Tony Parrish stepped in front of McNabb first pass and returned back down to the Eagles 4-yard line. Todd Peterson kicked the game-winning field goal, which probably ended the Eagles hopes of getting the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. It was a tough defeat and losing Emmons hurt more than the disheartening loss. We are not dead yet, but the Eagles must stop the 100-yard rushers from doing any more damage or else it could be a quick post-season for the men in midnight green.